Dunkirk Dave

For the second straight year, Dunkirk Dave’s prognostication for how long we wait until spring will be a private ceremony.

Dave’s handler, Bob Will, said out of an abundance of caution for the COVID-19 pandemic and its omicron variant, Will is doing his best to keep people safe. “I want to protect us and everyone else as usual,” he said. “There’s so much going on in the world today with the virus, that no one knows what’s going on.”

Will is optimistic this will be the last year they will have to cancel the public ceremony, as he said it’s not the same for himself or Dunkirk Dave without all the people there to see it.

“Hopefully this will be the last year we have to cancel,” Will said. “We’re hoping we can get Dave to come out. He’s chomping at the bit to get out there.”

Dunkirk Dave is the second longest prognosticating groundhog in the world, behind only the famous Punxsutawney Phil. Meanwhile, Will has been handling and helping groundhogs and other wildlife since he was a child, making Will and Dave the perfect pairing.

Dunkirk Dave will come out of his house on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 2, assisted by Will, and determine the fate of how long we will wait for the spring season.